Kingwood resident participates in Genghis Grill 60-day contest

Published 7:06 am, Thursday, February 21, 2013

When Shana Lira first heard about the Genghis Grill Health Kwest through a friend, she had no idea that a month later she would be a contestant in a health adventure.

“I was eating at the Genghis Grill is Humble when my friend was telling me about the contest. I signed up for the rewards card and then received an email describing the Health Kwest. I immediately signed up; I knew this would be the perfect opportunity for me to get healthier and lose weight,” Lira, who graduated from Humble High School and lives in Kingwood, said.

But that almost did not happen for Lira, as she did not receive the voicemails from Genghis Grill representatives saying she had been chosen for the contest until it was almost too late.

Lira called them back immediately and is one of seven Houston residents who is competing to win the top prize and win the local competition as well.

The Health Kwest, a 60 day weight loss contest in which selected “khantestants” eat free Genghis Grill once a day as part of a healthy diet, began Feb. 11, 2013 and spans till April 12, 2013.

Of the 100 contestants, seven will represent local Genghis locations and compete to win $10,000 and an additional local prize.

“This will be a challenge for me. I had gained 90 pounds when I got sick and my eight spiraled out of control. I have already lost 20 pounds but I need to lose more; there are so many things that my weight is infringing on and it needs to change,” Lira said.

Additionally, Lira was recently diagnosed with a fructose intolerance which means she has to be very restrictive with her diet which is why she chose Genghis Grill to eat so she could select her own ingredients and also see which ingredients she can incorporate in her meals that will not make her sick.

“I like to work out and it will be fun to see what kind of meals I can eat at Genghis Grill for 60 days,” Lira added.

To be eligible for the contest and ensure she would not be disqualified, Lira also planned her recent vacation around where Genghis Grill restaurants are located which can be hard especially since there are none located in California.

Each “khantestant” shares their journey online where the public can vote for their favorite.

The 2013 winner will be chosen based on weight loss and points accumulated from by completing daily tasks including blogging, social media posts and specialty meals from Genghis Grill.

“This is a great motivation for me to get my health and my weight back on track. I am so thankful for all of the support I have received for my husband and excited to see how this will progress and the results,” Lira added.